Key case



- NOV. 30, 1926. 1,609,011

W. R. BUXTON KEY CASE Filed Sept. 6, 1923 ATTQRNEYS Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNETED STATES 1,609n1 i PATENT orrics.

WARNER R. BUXTON, F LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNO R TO BUXTON INCORPORATED, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSA- CI-IUSETTS.

KEY CASE.

Application filed September 6, 1923.

y This invention relates generally to improvements in key cases and more particularly to improvements in the key holders thereof.

Such key holders, usually in the nature of snap hooks, are commonly mounted in the key case to swing into and out of the case along arc-like paths of substantially constant radius and are also swivelled, so as to be capable of turning about axes disposed substantially at right angles to the aXis about which they swing. Key holders of this type usually have a substantially round head which is received in a hollow cylindrical member and the latter is slotted at intervals transversely to permit the shank of the key holder to pass through said member and be free for the swinging movement described.

While a ball head of larger diameter than that portion of the key holder, which passes through the transverse slot described, would seem theoretically to be a proper solution of the problem. such a head cannot readily be formed as an integral part of the key holder and manufacturing difiiculties are encountered which make the cost relatively expensive. An approximation of such a head, by a relatively simple construction, is disclosed in my prior U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,439,- 863, granted December 26, 1922. In this patent, a head is formed integrally with the key holder but its width is the same as the width of the key holder shank and, accordingiy, the shank has to be cut away at its sides, just below the head, to provide a narrow portion to pass through the transverse slot described. This cutting away of the shank adds to the cost of manufacture in that an extra step of a special nature is required. That is, something more than a mere bending operation is necessary. Also, the strength of the shank is weakened even though it may not seriously be impaired.

This invention has for its object the provision of a key holder having an improved integral head which may readily be formed entirely by bending operations.

More particularly, the invention has for an object to provide an improved head for the key holder by bending the shank thereof into substantially circular form and offsetting the part so bent, preferably on both sides of the shank, to increase the width of the head over that of the shank, n pr vide Serial No. 661,298.

shoulders which are engageable with the interior walls of the hollow cylindrical mem ber described.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and in the illustrative embodiment of the invention in the a modification in the head construction; and

Figs. 6 and. 7 are similar views showing gnother modification of the head construc- Referring to these drawings, the key case may be of any suitable type and, as an illustrative example of one suitable type, there has been shown a case which includes a strip 10 of flexible material, having end portions 1 which are foldable along the lines of fold 12 in overlapping relation over the central portion 13. The latter portion constitutes the back of the case and the portions 11 constitute flaps, which may be suitably held together in detachable fashion, as by male and female fasteners 14% and 15, respectively.

The key holders, with the exception of their heads, may be of any suitable type and an advantageous and preferred type is shown at 16 in Fig. 3. These key holders are usually mounted in a hollow cylindrical member 17 which is formed as an integral part of a plate 18, suitably secured, as by rivets 19, to the back 13 of the key case. The member 17 is provided with a series of transversely disposed slots 20, one for each key holder, and the shank of the key holder is adapted to pass through its slot 20 and swing freely therein, while the head is received within the member 17 and, by engagement with the interior wall thereof, limits the radial movement of the key holder in both directions.

The head of the key holder is, in all forms of theinvention, made generally round in shape by bending the upper end of the shank in circular form. In the form shown in Figs,- e, 6 and 7 a Wi l 21 f one convohn tion, or slightly more, is formed while, with that form shown in Figs. 2 and 8, a coil 22 of one and one half convolutions, or slightly more, is provided. In the broadest aspect of the invention, the coil 21 or 22 is provided with at least one portion which is ol iset from the shank to form a shoulder to engage the inner wall of member 17. In the simplest form, the coil 21, shown in Figs. 4: and 5, is offset near its terminus, as at 23, to provide a shoulder 24, which will prevent dislodgement of the key holder from member 17 and yet permit itto swing throughout the confines of slot 20 and swivel about axes at right angles to the axis about which it swings. Necessarily it is desirable to have a shoulder on each side of the key holder shank and this may be effected by offsetting the shank, as at 25, prior to coiling it in the described manner the coil being offset, as at 26, in the manner above described, to form the second shoulder on the opposite side of the shank. Both these shoulders, however, are located near the lower side of the head although the upper peripheral portion 28, being client from the shank, forms one shoulder near the upper end of the head. in fact, a continuous otfset portion isprovid d tor haltth circumference of the coil "21 shown in Fig. 6. The construction, at present preferred, is shown in Fig. 2 and it is very much like that just described, in connection with Figs. 6 and 7, with the addition of another half convolution 28 which is parallel to the shank and the first half convolution 2'9. FW'ith this construction, shoulders are provided on each side of the shank, and at all points around the head, for eug g agement with the interior wall of member 17. The overall width of head 22 is preferably somewhat less than its diameter and the latter is preferably somewhat less than the internal diameter of member 17. Under these conditions, the head will turn freely and swivel-in the member 17. The head has been shown in considerably mag-nitied form in order to clearly illustrate its construction and in ractice it can, and preferably would, be made as small as possible.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing cescription.

Claims:

1. A swivelling and swinging key holder for key cases and the like comprising, a one piece member bent to form a hook, head and a connecting shank, said head coniprising' asubstantially circular coil, "he axis of which is disposed. substantially at right an les to the shank and the diameter and width of which are greater than the widest part of said shank.

2. A swivelling and swinging}; key holder for key or :s s and the like comprising. a one piece member bent to term a hook, at head and a connecting shank. said head comprising a substantially circular coil, the axis of which is disposed substantially at right angles to the shank and the diameter and the width of which are greater than the widest part of said shank, said coil having parts projected in a direction approximate l v axially thereof to lie laterally beyond and on opposite sides of said shank.

3, A swivelling' and Swinging key holder forkey cases and the like comprising a one plBCQ member of uniform width bent to form a hook, a head and a connecting shank, said head comprising a substantially circular coil. the axis of which is disposed at right angles to the shank and part oil which extends laterally beyond the shank.

l. A swivellinp; and swinging key holder for key cases and the like comprising a one piece member bent to form a hook, a head and a connecting shank, said head comprising a substantially circular coil the axis of which is disposed at right angles to the shank and which is connected to the shank by a short otlset portion.

In testimony whereof I have attired my signature.

R. BUXTUN. 

